He was born near
Cooperstown, Illinois. After graduating from Kennedy Business College in 1897 and Northern Indiana Law School in 1901, Dieterich was admitted to the
bar and began to practice in
Rushville, Illinois. During the
Spanish–American War, he served as a corporal. He was city attorney for Rushville, 1903–1907; treasurer of Rushville Union Schools 1906–1908; and county judge of
Schuyler County, 1906–1910. He served only one term. He served one term, from 1933 to 1939. He did not run for re-election in
1938, instead returning to his law practice. He died in
Springfield, Illinois during a business trip. ==References==